General Football News
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Why Aston Villa landing £30m signing is a bittersweet moment [Opinion]
Aston Villa confirmed on Saturday that they’d reached an agreement with Bayer Leverkusen for Leon Bailey, pending a medical and finalising personal terms. The 23-year-old will set them back around £30 million and is an excellent acquisition, but the news is bittersweet as it likely means Jack Grealish will be sold. In addition to Bailey, Villa brought in Emiliano Buendia from Norwich City, so they’ve strengthened both flanks in the same transfer window when they already have Bertrand Traore, Anwar El Ghazi and Trezeguet at their disposal. The fact Villa are on the hunt for a creative midfielder amid links with Arsenal’s Emile Smith-Rowe and Southampton’s James Ward Prowse suggests they’re anticipating a playmaker leaving. Grealish is the subject of a £100m bid from Manchester City and Vill...
Kalvin Phillips’ seven-word reaction as Ben White joins Arsenal
Ben White has joined Arsenal from Brighton & Hove Albion for £50 million, and Leeds United midfielder Kalvin Phillips is proud of his international teammate. The 23-year-old spent the 2019-20 Championship campaign on loan at Elland Road, featuring in every minute of their promotion-winning season and playing a starring role. Leeds attempted to sign White permanently afterwards but were unable to meet Brighton’s asking price. They were briefly linked at the start of the summer transfer window, but it is Arsenal that have won the race for his signature. Phillips has been over the moon seeing his friend move to one of the biggest clubs in the Premier League and has reacted to it on Instagram. Sportslens View Arsenal have made White their third-most expensive transfer of all time, and ther...
Lokonga and Pepe start, Predicted Arsenal line-up (4-2-3-1) vs Chelsea – The Mind Series
Arsenal host Chelsea in a pre-season friendly on Sunday. The game is being played as part of The Mind Series to support better mental health. Tottenham Hotspur are also involved in the mini-tournament. They will be involved against Chelsea and Arsenal on August 4 & 8 respectively. Formation: 4-2-3-1 Predicted Line-up: Bernd Leno played his first pre-season game against Watford in midweek. The German is likely to start between the sticks for the London derby. Calum Chambers jumped ahead of Hector Bellerin in the pecking order for the right-back role towards the end of the previous campaign. He is likely to get the nod with Kieran Tierney starting in the opposite end. Ben White has had just one training session since his arrival. The centre-back could be restricted to a cameo role. With ...
‘Improved massively’: Some Wolves fans react to 24-year-old’s heroics on international duty
A selection of Wolverhampton Wanderers fans reacted on Twitter after Rafa Mir’s heroics for Spain in the Olympic Games quarter-final against Ivory Coast. La Roja trailed after just 10 minutes into their last-eight clash after Eric Bailly bundled the ball into the back of the net from a corner. Dani Olmo brought them level at the half-an-hour mark. The scores remained the same at the interval after some top-class saves from Unai Simon. In the second half, Mikel Oyarzabal scored with a lovely volley, but the goal was ruled out for offside in the build-up play. In stoppage time, Max Gradel appeared to have bagged the winner for Ivory Coast, but La Roja made a sensational comeback. Rafa Mir scored within minutes of coming off the bench after a defensive misunderstanding between Kouad...
Arsene Wenger makes managerial decision amid Switzerland interest
Former Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger will turn down a potential return to management with Switzerland, The Telegraph’s Mike McGrath reports. The 71-year-old has been out of management since leaving the Premier League giants in 2018 after a hugely successful stint of 22 years. Over the past two years, he has been working with FIFA as their chief of global football development while also being involved as a TV pundit. He has been linked with a return to coaching on several occasions, and it has recently been reported that Switzerland could make an approach. The Swiss had an impressive Euro 2020 under Vladimir Petkovic as they reached their first-ever quarter-final after beating competition favourites France. After seven years, Petkovic has moved on to become the new head coach of Bordea...
Two Liverpool stars set to sign new contracts at Anfield
Trent Alexander-Arnold has signed a new long-term contract at Liverpool, the club have confirmed via their official website. Alexander-Arnold first broke into the Liverpool first-team near the beginning of the 2016/17 season, earning his professional debut in October 2016 as an 18-year-old. He made 12 appearances in all competitions that season, including two starts in the Premier League. The Englishman built on his early success and was soon a key part of Jurgen Klopp’s side, featuring ten times in the Reds’ run to the Champions League final in 2018. His performances earned him a place in Gareth Southgate’s squad for the World Cup in Russia, featuring once against Belgium in the group stage. It was in the following two seasons when he really established himself as one of the very best ful...
Report: Arsenal open talks to sign Brazil international likened to Kevin de Bruyne
Arsenal have opened talks with Lyon over a potential £30 million deal for midfielder Bruno Guimaraes, according to Goal. Gunners manager Mikel Arteta would love to land Sassuolo midfielder Manuel Locatelli, but a deal is proving difficult, with Juventus also keen on the Italy international. Arsenal have now identified Guimaraes as an alternative, with the Ligue 1 outfit open to selling as they are struggling to balance the books after losing Memphis Depay on a free transfer to Barcelona. Sportslens View The Gunners need to get in quality players this summer if they want to qualify for Europe next season after disappointingly missing out last term, and their long-term target would be a solid addition. The Brazil international is already valued double the fee Lyon paid for him, and the north...
Report: NUFC & West Ham offered chance to sign midfielder with 3 titles for £6m
West Ham United are interested in Slavia Prague midfielder Lukas Masopust, with Newcastle United also offered the chance to sign him, according to 90min. The 28-year-old could be available this summer for as little as £6 million, but there is tough competition for his signature, with Leicester City, Watford, Brighton and Hove Albion, Wolverhampton Wanderers and Crystal Palace also offered the chance to bring him to the Premier League. Sportslens View Masopust has been with Prague since the summer of 2018, helping them win the Czech First League title in each of the last three seasons and winning the Czech Cup in 2018-19 and last term. He plays primarily as a right winger but can also play as a midfielder and right-back, and West Ham and Newcastle could do with such a player. The Magpies do...
Report: England int’l midfielder in talks to leave EPL giants, Everton want him
Tottenham Hotspur midfielder Harry Winks is in talks to join a Premier League club after being told he will be a fringe player next season, according to Football Insider. The England international has been linked with a move Everton, with Sky Sports journalist Fabrizio Romano reporting last week that a move to Goodison Park is a possibility. Football Insider have claimed this morning that Spurs boss Nuno Espirito Santo has given the green light for the 25-year-old to be sold to a Premier League rival, with the club likely to do a deal below their £30 million valuation. Sportslens View Everton appear to have been handed a massive boost by Tottenham as manager Rafa Benitez looks to bring in necessary additions this summer. The Toffees have signed a new goalkeeper and two attacking midfielder...
Report: 21y/o visited Thorp Arch after Leeds agreed terms with club, but he’s not joining
Chelsea midfielder Conor Gallagher has opted to join Crystal Palace ahead of Leeds United on loan for the season, according to TEAMtalk. The Blues have sanctioned another temporary exit after the 21-year-old impressed with West Bromwich Albion last term. TEAMtalk claim Leeds had agreed terms with Chelsea to take Gallagher on loan for the season, with the midfielder already visiting their training ground in West Yorkshire. However, he would now remain in London for the new season, with the Eagles expected to wrap up a deal soon. Sportslens View Leeds boss Marcelo Bielsa is badly in need of reinforcements in the middle of the park for next season and would have been gutted to have missed out on the England youth international. The Elland Road outfit lost seven out of the nine Premier League ...
Report: Gerrard wants to sign midfielder from Man Utd for Rangers before Saturday
Rangers are interested in bringing Manchester United midfielder Charlie McCann to Ibrox this summer, according to Daily Record. The 19-year-old is yet to make his first-team debut but has impressed with the Red Devils under-23s, with Light Blues boss Steven Gerrard keen on having him. The Rangers boss has been alerted to McCann’s growing reputation for a while and monitored his progress. The Scottish Premiership champions begin their title defence with a visit from Livingston on Saturday, and Daily Record claims Gerrard wants to add the Man Utd youngster to his squad before the new domestic season kicks off. Sportslens View Rangers need to strengthen in the middle of the park, and Gerrard knows exactly what to look for in a midfielder. Having been a goalscoring one himself, it appears McCa...
Report: NUFC want dribbling machine, most fouled player in Europe’s top five leagues last term
Newcastle United are interested in signing Angers attacking midfielder Angelo Fulgini this summer, according to the Daily Mail. Crystal Palace are also keen on the 24-year-old, with the French outfit keen on selling in order to raise funds. Fulgini has just two years left on his current contract at Angers and is valued at around £12 million. Sportslens View Newcastle need to strengthen the squad this summer to avoid another relegation battle next season, and the attacking midfielder would help boost their goalscoring chances in the final third. Fulgini ended last season with ten goals and six assists in 36 games across all competitions and also caught the eye with his dribbling ability, emerging as the second most fouled player in Europe’s top five leagues during the campaign. The Magpies ...
